A much improved showing in their second pre-season game of the season at Peel Croft on Saturday afternoon sent both coaches and supporters home much happier following this good, solid 36-19 victory over Ilkeston. With the game being played in three thirty minute sessions Burton were in control for most of the match and thoroughly deserved their victory by looking and performing in a far sharper fashion than in the defeat against Matlock. Only a dismal spell in the final session that saw Ilkeston touchdown for three rapid tries gave any cause for concern to Burton’s excellent defence throughout.

Burton kicked-off and a good kick by Dave Archer initially saw the Burton pack struggling to come to grips with the opposition’s forward power, but after initial skirmishes by both sides moved play around the halfway line it was Burton who showed some enterprise. Burton pack won quick ruck ball and this was spun out along the line to Lewis Brookes who opened Burton’s account as he raced in for the first try.

The visitors hit back with a sustained period of forward pressure but the Burton defence was rock sold with forwards and backs alike putting in good tackles. The Burton pack stopped this onslaught and from a good set scrum Darryl Banton spun the ball out to Ian Gilomour to set up a move that saw Burton move into the opposition twenty-two. Here, Brookes again cut through the defence but with the try-line beckoning he was called back for an earlier knock-on. Burton stayed camped in the Ilkeston twenty-two for the next ten minutes with Gilmour, Sam Smith and Jack Bartram all making ground. Next with captain Josh Cartwright leading the way the Burton pack surge forward thanks to some powerful bursts. Cartwright was stopped just three metres short of the line, but Tom Murphy was on hand to pick-up and crash over for a try to take the score to 10-0.

Quick-silver Gilmour then intercepted an Ilkeston pass to race sixty metres towards the line, but feeling the defenders breath on his neck he veered out wide before slipping the ball back inside to the on-rushing Sam Smith, but the winger failed to hold the pass and a chance went begging. From the ensuing scrum the Burton pack piled on the pressure and as the opposition struggled to control the ball Nathan Taylor charged down an attempted clearance to drop over the line for a try. Archer, at last, found his range and got the conversion to give Burton a 17-0 lead as the first session ended.

Burton coaches rang the changes during the break but this did little to hamper Burton’s control and after a great piece of play involving some of these new players, namely Adie Varney, James Hamilton, Kevin Birt, Kelvin Browne and Matt Boden, the ongoing Burton momentum saw Steve Cross crash over for a try. Jack Bartram converted and Burton’s lead increased to 24-0. The Burton side piled on the pressure and good inter-play between Kelvin Browne and Luke Upton saw Sean Green crash over for a try to mark his return to the game after a three year absence. Another players returning to the game after a break, Pete Baum, also showed his pace and skill with three great runs to make plenty of ground on his comeback. From one of these telling breaks Burton got a scrum some seven-metres from the opposition line and a solid scrum saw Ben Peach break to score a try for Archer to convert and take the score to 36-0.

The next six minutes was all Ilkeston as their forward, particularly their big powerful back row, began to dominate play with a series a bursts through midfield. Although they had used this tactic earlier in the game this time it paid dividend as Burton’s defence buckled on three occasions to give Ilkeston three tries and two conversion and take the score to a more flattering 36-19.

This burst took the wind out of Burton’s sails, but fortunately Archer had wings on his feet as three times he chased back to tackle players, when tries looked certain. Burton steadied the ship and with Brown and Fitchett leading the way the final whistle sounded to give Burton a well-deserved victory and its supporter’s fresh hope for the coming season.